Automatic vertical feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks of the like

ABSTRACT

An automatic vertical feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks or the like is provided with a substantially horizontal conveyor for receiving a substantially horizontal stack of carton blanks to feed the same to a terminating end of the conveyor. Each carton blank in the horizontal stack is positioned to have the plane thereof at right angles to the conveying path and upon reaching the end of the conveyor is picked up by elevator means through suction in a vacuum chamber over which a foraminous wall forms a part thereof. The elevator means is formed of a belt having a plurality of apertures therein which pass over the foraminous wall and to which the carton blanks are attracted by suction and elevated to a position above the horizontal conveyor. Upon reaching the top of the elevator the carton blanks are directed over an arcuate portion of the elevator belt to re-orient the plane of the blank to a horizontal position. The blank is then ejected at a dispensing station at the upper end of the machine so that it will fall into a vertical stack at the input of a carton handling machine or the like.

United States Patent [1 1 Mojden AUTOMATIC VERTICAL FEEDING MACHINE FOR VERTICAL STACKING OF CARTON BLANKS OR THE LIKE [75] Inventor: Wallace W. Mojden, Hinsdale, Ill.

[73] Assignee: Fleetwood Systems, Inc.,

Countryside, Ill.

[22] Filed: Nov. 22, 1971 [21] Appl. No.: 200,929

[4 1 Oct. 9, 1973 Primary Examiner-Robert G. Sheridan Assistant Examiner-George H. Libman Attorney-Roy H. Olson et a1.

[5 7] 7 ABSTRACT An automatic vertical feeding machine for vertical,

stacking of carton blanks or the like is provided with a substantially horizontal conveyor for receiving a substantially horizontal stack of cartoon blanks to feed the same to a terminating end of the conveyor. Each carton blank in the horizontal stack is positioned to have the plane thereof at right angles to the conveying path and upon reaching the end of the conveyor is picked up by elevator means through suction in a vacuum chamber over which a foraminous wall forms a part thereof. The elevator means is formed of a belt having a plurality of apertures therein which pass over the foraminous wall and to which the carton blanks are attracted by suction and elevated to a position above the horizontal conveyor. Upon reaching the top of the elevator the carton blanks are directed over an arcuate portion of the elevator belt to re-orient the plane of the blank to a horizontal position. The blank is then ejected at a dispensing station at the upper end of the machine so that it will fall into a vertical stack at the input of a carton handling machine or the like.

13 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEDHEI 9l975 3.764, 024

PATENIEDBBI 91w 3.764.024

SHEET 6 0F 7 1 AUTOMATIC VERTICAL FEEDING MACHINE FOR VERTICAL STACKING F CARTON BLANKS OR THE LIKE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to carton blank handling' machines,and more particularly to an automatic feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks or the like.

The use of cardboard cartons for various kinds of containers is well-known and in wide use throughout many industries and are particularly useful because of their low cost. (Cardboard cartons are generally formed from carton blanks stamped from a carboard sheet. The carton. blanks have cut and fold lines formed therein corresponding to the size and shape of the carton to be formed. The carton blank is then manipulated along the fold and cut line and, in some cases, glue is applied to one or more of peripheral mating edges of the carton blank. However, to maintain a low cost per unit, the cartons must be handled at extremely high speeds and processed through automatic folding and gluing apparatus. For example, the input of a folding and gluing machine may have a receptor at one end thereof into which a plurality of carton blanks are received in a vertical stack, with each carton blank being positioned in a horizontal plane. The bottom carton blank of the vertical stack is then picked up by a suitable transport means to convey the carton blank through the folding and gluing apparatus in a conventional manner whereupon the carton is formed.

Because of the high continuous speed of the folding and gluing apparatus, it is necessary that a single workman attend the machine at all times to insure that the receptor does not become void of carton blanks during operation. This causes an increase in the cost of the carton being made because of the increase in manhours required to feed the machine. Also, the operator is limited in the number of cartons he can stack in a vertical stack because of inherent reach limitations and other limitations imposed by the general construction of the plant in which the apparatus is being employed.

. vide an automatic carton blank feeder which will handle a great number of cartons in a single loading without having inherent height limitations.

Another object of this invention is to provide an autornatic carton feeding machine which will orient carton blanks into a vertical stack at the rate corresponding'to the rate at which the carton blanksare being used by a folding machine or the like.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an automatic carton feeding machine for receiving a horizontal stack of carton blanks and conveying the stacks of carton blanks through conveyor means and elevator and discharge means and dispensing the carton blanks onto a vertical stack at the input of a carton handling apparatus.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a carton feedingmachine which will receive a plurality of carton blanks therein in a horizontal stack and thereby effectively increase the initial capacity of cartons stacked in a carton-handling apparatus.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an automatic feeding machine for receiving a large number of carton blanks or the like in a single loading operation and thereby requires less operator time for serving a machine.

Briefly, the automatic feeding machine of this invention has a conveyor comprising a pair of spaced-apart link chain elements for receiving carton blanks or the like arranged in a substantially horizontal stack on the conveyor, i.e. with each carton blank having the plane thereof perpendicular to the conveying path. The horizontal stack is referred to throughout the specification and claims as being substantially horizontal, it being understood that a range of inclination to the horizontal line can vary from about 30 to 40 to completely horizontal. In this range of inclination, an operator can unpackage and insert large numbers of carton blanks into the substantially horizontal conveyor so that carton blanks are continuously conveyed to an elevator belt upon which they are raised to a predetermined level and then supplied to a vertical stack, i.e., with the plane of the blanks disposed generally horizontally. By providing a substantially horizontal conveyor, the operator can stack carton blanks for an extent of 12 feet or more, in contradistinction to the relatively short vertical stacks that can be accommodated by present machines. An operator can then service a second machine stacking cartons therein or even a third or fourth machine. Therefore, a single operator can feed carton blanks from their packages into the horizontal stacking conveyor simply and quickly to thereby reduce the overall cost of forming cartons when using this apparatus.

Each conveyor chain section is adjustable vertically, as well as horizontally, independent of the other to accommodate carton blanks of irregular edge configuration and/or to tilt the stack slightly to prevent the carton blanks from falling as they are: being conveyed. As the carton blanks are conveyed to the terminating end of the conveyor chain, they are transferred from the conveyor to the elevator belt by means of a suction chamber which has a foraminous wall immediately adjacent the terminating end of the conveyor and extending upwardly therefrom. A travelling belt or web, having a plurality of apertures therein, has its active run extending upwardly from the transfer station, over the foraminous wall. As such, the suction created by the passage of air into the suction chamber will maintain the carton blanks in engagement with the elevator belt,

thereby raising them from the horizontal stack to a predetermined level. The upper portion of the elevator belt run is engaged over an arcuately shaped portion of the machine and operates in conjunction with guid means in contact therewith to direct the carton blanks at high speed from their vertical disposition to a horizontal disposition, and then dispensed from an ejecting station at the top of the feeding machine on to a vertical stack. The dispensed carton is gravity fed into a receptor or other similar mechanism at the input station of the carton blank folding and gluing machine and thereby has continuous feeding of carton blanks onto a vertical stack therein.

Other objects, features and advantages of this invention will become more fully realized and understood from the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals throughout the various views of the drawings are intended to designate similar elements or components.

BREIF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an automatic carton feeding machine constructed in accordance with this invention and shows, in phantom line, a receptor for a carton folding and gluing machine which receives the vertically stacked cartons;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view showing the terminating end of the horizontal conveyor together with the vertical elevator belt and guide apparatus for changing the disposition of the stacked cartons from a horizontal stack to a vertical stack;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the terminating end 'of the horizontal conveyor at the transfer location where the cartons are then picked up by the elevator belt, this figure showing no cartons on the conveyor;

FIG. 5 is similar to FIG. 3 but, in this instance, illustrates carton blanks on the conveyor and being transported upwardly upon the elevator belt;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the foraminous wall of the plenum chamber adjacent the transfer station;

FIG. 7 shows the apertured elevator belt passing over the foraminous wall through which suction is applied to carton blanks at the terminating end of the conveyor for raising the same along the elevator belt;

FIG. 8 is a perspective fragmentary view showing the guide means engaging the upper end of the elevator belt for directing carton blanks from a vertically moving position, arcuately across the top of the belt, to a substantially horizontally moving position for dispensing of the carton blanks in a vertical stack;

FIG. 9 is an end view of the guide means and dispensing station of the machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is a plan view at the input end of the horizontal conveyor showing adjusting means for transverse movement of the chain conveyor units and further showing synchronizing gear means for operating the conveyor chain units at substantially the same speed;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view showing the side of the automatic feeding machine of this invention and clearly illustrates vertical adjusting means for independent adjustment of each conveyor chain unit;

FIG. 12 is a sectional end view taken along line 1212 of FIG. 11 further illustrating the vertical adjusting screws for each conveying chain unit; and

FIG. 13 is an enlarged detail view of the hand crank mechanism for vertical adjustment of the conveying chain unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1 there is seen a perspective view of an automatic carton blank feeding machine designated generally by reference numeral 10. The automatic feeding machine 10 can be used to convert a substantially horizontal stack of carton blanks to a vertical stack, it being understood that substantially any form of sheet-like material can be processed through the feeding machine in the same manner as that of carton blanks as described herein. The automatic feeding machine 10 has a substantially horizontal conveyor means 12 to receive a similarly oriented stack 14 or carton blanks, or the like. A slight incline of the conveyor means 12 is provided so that the horizontal stack of cartons will maintain a fixed position during feeding, i.e., the cartons will not fall back on themselves and onto the conveyor as they are transported. The degree of inclination of the conveyor means l2=may be in the order of from zero or completely horizontal to about 30 or 40, depending upon the kind of material being transported and depending on'the particular location of the machine. The horizontal stack 14 of carton blanks is transported to the terminating end of the conveyor means 12 whereupon an elevator belt 16 picks up the endmost carton blanks to raise them along the belt to the top thereof and around the upper arcuate end 18 to change the orientation of the carton blanks. That is, the plane of each carton blank is substantially vertical upon being picked up by the elevator belt 18 and this orientation is changed to substantially horizontal as the blank passes around the arcuate upper end 18. To ensure that the carton blanks engage the elevator belt at all times as they travel around the arcuate portion of the machine, guide means 20 is provided at the upper end of the machine. Said guide means maintains the blanks in contact with the elevator belt 16, and preclude slippage of the blanks relative to the belts, thus producing a smooth even flow of blanks about said arcuate portion. The carton blanks are then directed to a discharge station 22 where they fall, under gravity, onto a vertical stack of cartons in the receptor 24.

Accordingly, the automatic feeding machine 10 allows an operator to place a relatively large horizontal stack 14 of carton blanks or the like into the machine at the conveying end thereof and the machine itself will rapidly change the orientation of the horizontal stack to a vertical stack as described above. The automatic feeding machine 10 will allow a single operator to stack carton blanks in a horizontal direction in the order of 12 feet or more and thereby permitting the operator to service several machines during a given time interval. Referring now to FIG. 2, transfer means 26 is shown and is used to change the orientation of the horizontal stack 14 to a vertical stack. The transfer means 26 includes a plenum chamber 28 which may include an air volume control 30 on one side of the chamber and at a location of easy access to an operator. The control 30 allows variation of the amount of suction that is created at the elevator belt 16. The plenum chamber 28 has a foraminous wall 32 immediately adjacent the terminating end of the conveyor means 12 whereupon the end carton blank is positioned during operation. The elevator belt 16 includes a plurality of apertures 34, FIGS. 4 and 5, which are arranged in rows, which rows are in registry with apertured portions of the foraminous wall 32. As said suction, or negative perssure, is created in the plenum chamber 28 by drawing air through the aperture 34 and the foraminous wall 32, into said chamher, which causes the endmost carton blanks to be drawn to and held against the elevator belt 16 for upward transport thereof. This then initiates the conversion of the horizontal stack to the vertical stack by changing the plane of orientation of each carton blank. For a more detailed understanding of the conveyor means 12, reference is now made to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 thus illustrating the various views of the conveyor. The conveyor means 12 includes a pair of continuous chain units or members 36 and 37 which have active runs 36a and 37a for advancing the stacks 14 of carton blanks and return runs 36b and 37b passing thereunder. Although independent chain link conveyors are shown, it

will be understood that belt or web means can be used in substantially the same manner; The chain link conveyors 36 and 37 are wrapped about their elongated chain support structures 38 and 39, respectively. The transverse position of each chain link member is adjustable by an associated pair of threaded shafts 40 and 42, each being an independent adjustment. The threaded shafts 40 and 42 have hand crank means 44 and 46, respectively, at the extended ends thereof to be accessible from each side of the automatic feeding machine 10. While hand wheel cranks are shown in FIG. 3, it will be understood that a suitable square end may be formed on the shaft to receive a removable hand crank or the like. Preferably there are several threaded adjusting shafts on each side of the machine and the respect'ive conveyor chain is moved inwardly and outwardly uniformly along the entire length of the horizontal conveyor by connection of a chain or other gear means 48 and 50 between the respective different adjusting shafts. The threaded adjusting shaft 40 is journalled by a pair of bearing blocks 51 and a threaded collar 53 moves along the shaft and is attached to the conveyor chain structure to produce movement thereof. Similarly, the adjusting shaft 42 is journalled by a pair of bearing blocks 52 and the threaded collar 54 moves along the shaft upon rotation thereof.

To maintain thehorizontal stack 14 in a fixed positionover the conveying chains, a single or a pair of guide walls 56 and 57 may be provided to confine transverse movement of the stack. While the guide wall 56 is shown in FIG. 3, it will be understood that the single guide wall 57 as shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 may also be used. Forexample, the cartons are maintained in a fixed position over the conveying chains by slightly tilting the cartons against the guide wall 57, this being accomplished by having the conveying chains at different levels so that gravitational force will always urge the stack of cartons against the guide wall surface.

Also, independent upward and downward adjustments of each guide or each conveyor chain will accommodate carton blanks having different edge configurations, this being illustrated in FIG. 3. The carton blank configuration shown in FIG. 3 has a right side of greater extent than its left side, and the carton blanks are maintained in a substantially aligned position because the relative height of each conveyor chain is adjusted accordingly. Referring now to FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7, the transfer means 26 is more clearly illustrated. Here the transfer means include the apertures 34 and the elevator belt 16, these apertures cooperating with the foraminous wall 32 of the plenum chamber 28. A duct 60 communicates with a negative pressure chamber 62 which has a squirrel cage blower 64 positioned therein and driven by a conventional motor 66. The motor 66 is energized by suitable control circuit means located within the control panel 68, FIG. 1, to draw air from the plenum chamber, which is exhausted via outlet 70. This withdrawal of air will cause suction action to occur at the foraminous wall 32, which is transmitted through the elevator belt 16 by means of the apertures 34. As thus seen in FIG. 5, the carton blanks of the stack 14 are then drawn into contact with the elevator belt and carried upwardly by said belt around the arcuateportion 18 thereof. Seen in FIGS. 4 and 5, is the journalled end 72 of the lowermost roller within the elevator transport system and over which the belt 16 is engaged.

The plenum chamber 32 extends upwardly under the arcuate portion 18 of the machine, this upper portion being designated by reference numeral 32a. This featureensures that the carton blanks are maintained in engagement with belt 16 at least until they reach the arcuate portion 18, at which the guide means 20 will bear against the blanks and maintain the contact with belt 16 required to move the blanks to the dischrage end of the machine.

The foraminous wall 32, as best seen in FIG. 6, includes a plurality of oval openings 32a extending upwardly from the transfer station and a plurality of elongated slots 32b located at the transfer station to provide a maximum suction at this point for initial pick-up of the carton blanks. While only three columns of openings are shown, it will be understood that any suitable arrangement of the foraminous wall can be provided, i.e., columns and rows of openings or a screened wall.

Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9, the guide means 20 is shown in greater detail. Here a pair of spaced-apart support members and 81 extend on opposite sides of the upper end 18 of the elevator belt 16 and are maintained a fixed distance apart by spacers 82, 83 and 84. Three continuous belts 86, 87 and 88 are wrapped about pulley sets 89, 90 and 91, respectively, to have an arcuate under-portion or active run engaged with the top arcuate portion 18 of the elevator belt 16. A

pair of side guide members 86 and 87 extend beyond the active run portion of the belt 16, to guide the carton blanks over a jogging bar 93, here illustrated as the rotatable square member, which jogs the carton blanks sufficient to allow proper slide action between the shuffled or slightly spaced-apart blanks for proper vertical stacking.

As best seen in FIG. 2, the return run of the elevator belt 16 passes beneath the arcuate portion 18 and is wrapped about a pair of idler rollers 96 and 97 which has disposed therebetween an. adjusting roller 98. The adjusting roller 98 includes a suitable guide block and threaded adjustment means on each side of the machine for adjusting the tension of this rollerrelative to the elevator belt 16 which, in turn, adjusts the overall tension of the elevator belt. Also, shown in FIG. 2, is a drive motor 99, drivingly coupled to the upper roller, 100, by means of a chain or belt 101, to provide transport motion of the elevator belt. Although the drive motor 99 is shown cradled underneath the arcuate portion 16, it will be understood that it can be located in any suitable position on the apparatus. Similarly, a drive motor 102 is positioned beneath the return run of the chain conveyors 36 and 37 and is coupled to a gear sprocket 103 by means of a drive chain 104. However, this motor can be positioned at any desired location on the machine. For'exarnple, FIG. 10 illustrates an alternate motor position for the conveyor chains 36 and 37. Here the drive motor is positioned under the end of the conveyor chain and coupled thereto through suitable gear box and right angle gear connections as shown at reference numerals 107 and 108. This will provide a synchronization of transport speed of the conveyor chains for proper operation.

Referring now to FIG. 11, the vertical adjustment of each conveying chain unit is clearly illustrated. Here a hand crank wheel 110 is threadedly connected to an inner post which, in turn, telescopically moves within the outer post 114. At the other end of the machine a similar inner post 116 engages an outer post 118 and moves relative thereto in like manner. The hand crank wheel 110 is connected to a threaded shaft 120 which, in turn, is threaded into the inner post 112 by means of a threaded block 122, this being shown more clearly in FIG. 12. Similarly, a threaded shaft 124 engages a threaded block 126 of the inner post 116 and the threaded shafts 122 and 124 are linked together for simultaneous rotation by a chain 128 which is engaged over a pair of sprockets 129 and 130. Therefore, the entire length of the conveying chain unit is adjusted upwardly and downwardly by turning the single hand wheel 110. Also seen in FIG. 11 is the hand wheel 46 which is connected to the threaded shaft 42, FIG. 3. Similarly, the hand wheel 46 is coupled to a corresponding threaded shaft at the other end of the chain conveyor unit and rotates this shaft by a chain 132. Therefore, single manual operation of cranking the hand wheel 46 will move the entire length of the conveying chain member transversely of the apparatus to adjust the width of the chain supports.

Referring once again to FIG. 1, the entire automatic feeding machine of this invention is fabricated on a steel structure of beam configuration and welded joints and is designated generally by reference numeral 140. Suitable chain housings may be incorporated as indicated by reference numerals 142, 144 and 146 to provide the necessary safety for personnel working in the area.

While a single motor drive arrangement is shown on the drawings, it will be understood that the motor drive 102 with its associated chain 104 and sprocket 103 can be located at any convenient position on the support frame 140.

What has been described is a simple and efficient automatic carton feeding machine which will accommodate a relatively large amount of carton blanks oriented in a horizontal stack, and transport this horizontal stack to a vertical stack at the input of a carton folding and gluing machine or the like. While carton blanks are of particular interest as a specific kind of article to be handled by the automatic feeding machine 10, it will be understood that other sheet-like members can be handled in a similar manner. Accordingly, variations and modifications of this invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts disclosed and claimed herein.

The invention is claimed as follows:

1. An automatic feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks, comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor means for receiving a substantially horizontal stack of carton blanks, and feeding the same to a terminating end of said conveyor means, elevator means having a receiving station adjacent said terminating end for receiving and raising the carton blanks from said termination end of said conveyor means to a predetermined level above said conveyor means, transfer means for transferring the carton blanks from said terminating end of said conveyor means to said receiving station of said elevator means, and guide means at the upper end of said elevator means to receive and direct the carton blanks to a discharge station whereupon the carton blanks are discharged into a vertical stack, said horizontal conveyor means comprising a pair of transversely spaced-apart continuous transport members each having an active reach and a return reach, and drive motor means coupled to each transport member to transport the carton blanks along the conveying path at a rate corresponding to the rate at which the carton blanks are being used from the vertical stack to which they are fed, and adjusting means for said pair of continuous transport members permitting independent vertical adjustment of each said continuous transport member.

2. An automatic feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks, or the like, comprising, substantially horizontal conveyor means for receiving a stack of carton blanks and feeding the same to a terminating end of said conveyor means, said substantially horizontal conveyor means comprising a pair of transversely spaced-apart independently adjustable continuous transport members each having an active reach and a return reach, whereby the height of each said transport member can be adjusted vertically relative to the other so that the active reach of one said transport member can be disposed at a higher elevation than the active reach of the other transport member, to accommodate blanks having irregular shaped portions to be engaged by said transport members, elevator means having a receiving station adjacent said terminating end for receiving and raising the carton blanks from said termination end of said conveyor means to a predetermined level above said conveyor means, transfer means for transferring the carton blanks from said terminating end of said conveyor means to said receiving station of said elevator means and guide means at the upper end of said elevator means to receive and direct the carton blanks to a discharge station whereupon the carton blanks are discharged into a vertical stack.

3. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2, wherein said pair of continuous transport members are chains.

4. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 further including motor speed control means connected to a drive motor means to provide a speed adjustment for said transport members.

5. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said elevator means includes a continuous belt having an upwardly extending active run and a downward return run, said receiving station being along said active run, and said transfer means causes the vertical carton blanks to be picked up by said active run for movement upward to said guide means.

6. The automatic feeding machine of claim 5 wherein said continuous belt moves over a plenum chamber, said plenum chamber having a foraminous wall adjacent said active run, said continuous belt having a plurality of apertures formed therein to communicate with the interior of said plenum chamber through said foraminous wall, and negative pressure means in communication with said plenum chamber, whereby the carton blanks are transferred to said elevator means by said negative pressure.

7. The automatic feeding machine of claim 6 wherein said foraminous wall has vertical elongated slots formed therein in the location of said transfer station.

8. The automatic feeding machine of claim 5, wherein said active run extends upwardly a given distance and continues along an arcuate path from the vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, said return run passing underneath said horizontal position, thereby changing the direction of the carton blank from vertical to horizontal prior to said discharge statron.

9. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said transfer means includes a plenum chamber having a foraminous wall, negative pressure means to form a suction through said foraminous wall thereby carton blanks are picked up by the suction and moved along said elevator means.

10. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said guide means has belt means having an active run adjacent the active run of said elevator means at the topend thereof, whereby the carbon blanks are guided between said belt means and said elevator means to change the direction of travel of the carton blanks from vertical to horizontal prior to discharge into a vertical stack.

11. The automatic feeding machine of claim 10, wherein said belt means is formed of a plurality of narrow belts of a predetermined width, and the spacing between each belt of said plurality of narrow belts is greater than said predetermined width to allow visual inspection of the carton blanks as they pass between the upper end of said elevator means and said narrow belts.

12. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said elevator means includes a continuous belt having an upwardly extending run and a downwardly extending return run, said active run extends upwardly a given distance and then changes directions along an arcuate path from the vertical position to the horizontal position, said guide means including belt means having an active run adjacent to and extending along said arcuate path and a return run, whereby the carton blanks are guided between said arcuate path of the active run of said elevator and the active run of said belt means.

13. The automatic feeding machine of claim 12 wherein said belt means is formed of a plurality of narrow belts of a predetermined width, and the spacing be tween each belt of said plurality of narrow belts is greater than said predetermined width to allow visual inspection of the carton blanks as they pass between said continuous belt of said elevator means and said narrow belts.

14. An automatic feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks, or the like, comprising conveyor means for receiving a stack of carton blanks and feeding the same to a terminating end of said conveyor means, said horizontal conveyor means comprising a pair of transversely spaced apart independently adjustable continuous transport members each having an active reach and a return reach, whereby the height of each said transport member can be adjusted vertically relative to the other said transport member to accommodate blanks having irregular shaped portions, elevator means having a receiving station adjacent said terminating end for receiving and raising the carton blanks from said termination end of said conveyor means to a predetermined level above said conveyor means, said elevator means includes a continuous belt having an upwardly extending active run and a downward return run, said receiving station being along said active run, and a plenum chamber over which said continuous belt moves, said plenum chamber having a f0 raminous wall adjacent said active run, said continuous belt having a plurality of apertures formed therein to communicate with the interior of said plenum chamber through said foraminous wall, and negative pressure means in communication with said plenum chamber, whereby the carton blanks are transferred to said elevator means by said negative pressure, and guide means at the upper end of said elevator means, said guide means including belt means having an active run adjacent the active run of said elevator means at the top end thereof, whereby the carton blanks are guided between said belt means and said elevator means to change the direction of travel of the carton blanks from vertical to horizontal prior to discharge into a vertical stack. 

1. An automatic feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks, comprising a substantially horizontal conveyor means for receiving a substantially horizontal stack of carton blanks, and feeding the same to a terminating end of said conveyor means, elevator means having a receiving station adjacent said terminating end for receiving and raising the carton blanks from said termination end of said conveyor means to a predetermined level above said conveyor means, transfer means for transferring the carton blanks from said terminating end of said conveyor means to said receiving station of said elevator means, and guide means at the upper end of said elevator means to receive and direct the carton blanks to a discharge station whereupon the carton blanks are discharged into a vertical stack, said horizontal conveyor means comprising a pair of transversely spaced-apart continuous transport members each having an active reach and a return reach, and drive motor means coupled to each transport member to transport the carton blanks along the conveying path at a rate corresponding to the rate at which the carton blanks are being used from the vertical stack to which they are fed, and adjusting means for said pair of continuous transport members permitting independent vertical adjustment of each said continuous transport member.
 2. An automatic feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks, or the like, comprising, substantially horizontal conveyor means for receiving a stack of carton blanks and feeding the same to a terminating end of said conveyor means, said substantially horizontal conveyor means comprising a pair of transversely spaced-apart independently adjustable continuous transport members each having an active reach and a return reach, whereby the height of each said transport member can be adjusted vertically relative to the other so that the active reach of one said transport member can be disposed at a higher elevation than the active reach of the other transport member, to accommodate blanks having irregular shaped portions to be engaged by said transport members, elevator means having a receiving station adjacent said terminating end for receiving and raising the carton blanks from said termination end of said conveyor means to a predetermined level above said conveyor means, transfer means for transferring the carton blanks from said terminating end of said conveyor means to said receiving station of said elevator means and guide means at the upper end of said elevator means to receive and direct the carton blanks to a discharge station whereupon the carton blanks are discharged into a vertical stack.
 3. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2, wherein said pair of continuous transport members are chains.
 4. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 further including motor speed control means connected to a drive motor means to provide a speed adjustment for said transport members.
 5. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said elevator means includes a continuous belt having an upwardly extending active run and a downward return run, said receiving statiOn being along said active run, and said transfer means causes the vertical carton blanks to be picked up by said active run for movement upward to said guide means.
 6. The automatic feeding machine of claim 5 wherein said continuous belt moves over a plenum chamber, said plenum chamber having a foraminous wall adjacent said active run, said continuous belt having a plurality of apertures formed therein to communicate with the interior of said plenum chamber through said foraminous wall, and negative pressure means in communication with said plenum chamber, whereby the carton blanks are transferred to said elevator means by said negative pressure.
 7. The automatic feeding machine of claim 6 wherein said foraminous wall has vertical elongated slots formed therein in the location of said transfer station.
 8. The automatic feeding machine of claim 5, wherein said active run extends upwardly a given distance and continues along an arcuate path from the vertical position to a substantially horizontal position, said return run passing underneath said horizontal position, thereby changing the direction of the carton blank from vertical to horizontal prior to said discharge station.
 9. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said transfer means includes a plenum chamber having a foraminous wall, negative pressure means to form a suction through said foraminous wall whereby carton blanks are picked up by the suction and moved along said elevator means.
 10. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said guide means has belt means having an active run adjacent the active run of said elevator means at the top end thereof, whereby the carbon blanks are guided between said belt means and said elevator means to change the direction of travel of the carton blanks from vertical to horizontal prior to discharge into a vertical stack.
 11. The automatic feeding machine of claim 10, wherein said belt means is formed of a plurality of narrow belts of a predetermined width, and the spacing between each belt of said plurality of narrow belts is greater than said predetermined width to allow visual inspection of the carton blanks as they pass between the upper end of said elevator means and said narrow belts.
 12. The automatic feeding machine of claim 2 wherein said elevator means includes a continuous belt having an upwardly extending run and a downwardly extending return run, said active run extends upwardly a given distance and then changes directions along an arcuate path from the vertical position to the horizontal position, said guide means including belt means having an active run adjacent to and extending along said arcuate path and a return run, whereby the carton blanks are guided between said arcuate path of the active run of said elevator and the active run of said belt means.
 13. The automatic feeding machine of claim 12 wherein said belt means is formed of a plurality of narrow belts of a predetermined width, and the spacing between each belt of said plurality of narrow belts is greater than said predetermined width to allow visual inspection of the carton blanks as they pass between said continuous belt of said elevator means and said narrow belts.
 14. An automatic feeding machine for vertical stacking of carton blanks, or the like, comprising conveyor means for receiving a stack of carton blanks and feeding the same to a terminating end of said conveyor means, said horizontal conveyor means comprising a pair of transversely spaced apart independently adjustable continuous transport members each having an active reach and a return reach, whereby the height of each said transport member can be adjusted vertically relative to the other said transport member to accommodate blanks having irregular shaped portions, elevator means having a receiving station adjacent said terminating end for receiving and raising the carton blanks from said termination end of said conveyor means to a predetermined level above said conveyor means, said elevator means includEs a continuous belt having an upwardly extending active run and a downward return run, said receiving station being along said active run, and a plenum chamber over which said continuous belt moves, said plenum chamber having a foraminous wall adjacent said active run, said continuous belt having a plurality of apertures formed therein to communicate with the interior of said plenum chamber through said foraminous wall, and negative pressure means in communication with said plenum chamber, whereby the carton blanks are transferred to said elevator means by said negative pressure, and guide means at the upper end of said elevator means, said guide means including belt means having an active run adjacent the active run of said elevator means at the top end thereof, whereby the carton blanks are guided between said belt means and said elevator means to change the direction of travel of the carton blanks from vertical to horizontal prior to discharge into a vertical stack. 